Kendall County Times

Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education met Sept. 23.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Community Unit School District 308, Kendall, Kane and Will Counties, Illinois, met in a regular session in the Community Room at Oswego East High School.

Note for file: All roll call votes are shown in alphabetical order in these minutes; however, during the Board Meeting votes are called out in accordance with Board Policy 2:220

1. Call to Order – Executive Session (6:00 p.m.)

The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by President LaTonya Simelton

1.1 Roll Call:

Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:

Dominick Cirone, Eugene Gatewood, Jared Ploger, LaTonya Simelton, Mary Jo Wenmouth

Members Absent (at roll call):

Jennifer Johnson (arrived at 6:12 p.m.) Dr. Amy Murillo (virtual in closed and open session)

2. Closed Session

2.1 Enter Closed Session under statute(s):

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to enter Closed Session under statute(s) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1): The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of certain employees and individuals; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 5-0

Aye: Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Jared Ploger,

Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

The Board of Education entered closed session 6:04 p.m.

2.2 Return to Open Session

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to return to Open session

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

The Board of Education returned to open session at 6:57 p.m.

3. Call to Order – Public Session (7:00 pm)

The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by President LaTonya Simelton

3.1 Roll Call:

Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:

Dominick Cirone, Eugene Gatewood, Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo (virtual), Jared Ploger, LaTonya Simelton, Mary Jo Wenmouth

Members Absent (at roll call):

None

Administration Present:

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Andalib Khelghati

Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Heather Kindaid

CFO/CSBO, Raphael Obafemi

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Jeremy Bell

Assistant Superintendent for Diverse Learners, Dr. Ivette Dubiel

Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Innovation, Dr. Kristen Paul

Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Engagement, Dr. Jadon Waller

Assistant Superintendent of HR, Dr. Bryan Zwemke

Executive Director of Communications, Theresa Komitas

Director of Operations, William Queen

Director of Finances, Amanda Sitar

Others Present:

Employees of the District and members of the community.

Recording Secretary:

Ursula Studer

3.2 Pledge of Allegiance

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President LaTonya Simelton

4. Recognitions

4.1 Introduction of our Student Board Members and their Alternates

President Simelton introduced our new Student Board Members and their Alternates for each of our High Schools. Khali Parnell (OHS) and Hope Rie (OEHS), as well as Alternates Trey Williams (OHS) and Sahana Mathan (OEHS).

4.2 NxtGen Residency Announcement and Updates

Anna Marie Candelario and Raggin Sondgeroth introduced the residents, mentors and leaders of the Residency program and provided the Board with an overview as well as some testimonials. The complete audio of the presentation and discussion can be found at the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

5. Public Hearing

5.1 Public Hearing on Updated E-Learning Plan

The Board conducted a Public Hearing before the adoption of our updated eLearning Plan. There were no public comments during the Hearing. The complete audio of the Public Hearing can be found at the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

6. Presentations

6.1 Aramark Update

Patty, Megan and Chef Natalia from Aramark presented the new offerings for our students this year. The audio for the complete presentation and discussion can be found at the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

A motion was made by President Simelton, second by Mr. Jared Ploger, to move action item 10.1 in front of 6.2 in order for the Administrator to leave the meeting following the vote

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

10.1 Approval of District Administrator Contract

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Eugene Gatewood, to approve the District Administrator contract as discussed and presented

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

6.2 PMA Securities, LL Refunding of 2015 Series Bonds

Bob Lewis from PMA provided and overview of the LL Refunding of the 2015 Series Bonds. The complete presentation including audio can be found at the following link:

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

6.3 Master Facility Plan Presentation

Representatives from Wight, Integrated Architecture, Engineering & Construction and a Representative from McKinstry, Nationwide, Multi-Faceted Engineering & Consulting Firm, presented a Master Facility Plan to the Board. The audio for the complete presentation and discussion can be found at the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

7. Public Comment

7.1 Opportunity for the Public to address the Board of Education

There was no public comment this evening.

8. Comments/Reports

8.1 Board President Comment

Tonight, I want us to pause and take a few moments to honor the profound loss our community has faced recently. As we gather here today, our hearts are heavy with sorrow. Three lives, still with so much ahead of them, were taken too soon. Each of these individuals brought light and joy to those around them, and their absence leaves a profound void that we all feel deeply.

In times like these, it’s important that we come together as a community, supporting one another and honoring the memories of those we’ve lost. Let us take a moment to reflect on their lives and the impact they had on our school and our hearts.

Tonight, we honor and remember OHS Senior Sean Fader, OEHS Alum Javion Magee, and Murphy Teacher and Coach Mr. Aaron Dudley.

Please join me in a moment of silence…

Thank you. We know that as a district, we unite, we lift up, and we carry on. But forever, we will remember these men who were part of our SD 308 family.

Superintendent Report

Good evening. Tonight, we are filled with mixed emotions, both of loss and hope. We will never forget the lives of Sean, Javion, and Aaron. The impression they made on the lives of others while they were a part of the 308 family will live on in the hearts of many. The celebration of who they were, what they stood for, and those whose lives they touched are forever part of the fabric of our district. Thank you to President Simelton for sharing words of hope and honoring their lives with a moment of silence. I want to encourage our community to join an inter-faith gathering this Wednesday evening at Hudson Park Crossing. Beginning at 6:30pm, a vigil will be held to remember these three men. The service is a powerful symbol of our community's unity in grief, but also in strength. We appreciate the faith community leaders who came together to offer this unique opportunity for our community. Over the past week, we, along with many school districts in our area and nationwide, struggled with the spread of threats through social media. In many cases, the messages originate far from our district but through social media channels, they end up in our community. While we take all reports very seriously and each was investigated, this type of behavior is disruptive, frightening, and costly in both time and resources. I want to take a moment to thank our students, parents, staff, and community members for their vigilance in reporting anything concerning, using “see something, say something”. As a reminder, it’s not funny to joke about school violence, and it's not ok to spread rumors, photos, videos, or content that suggests such violence. The safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority and we will take such matters very seriously. Thank you to our police partners for their time and assistance in the many investigations that resulted from the reports.

September 15th marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic and Latino communities have left an indelible mark on art, music, literature, science, politics, education, and countless other domains. Their enduring legacy is not only a source of pride for those who share this heritage but also a source of inspiration for all of us who recognize the power of diversity in shaping our shared humanity. Our Board of Education and district community join together in acknowledgment and celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. We are grateful for and encourage learning and celebrations across the district.

Mr. Gatewood

Oswego High School won the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights $5K sweepstakes! With your help, this is only the beginning! Future winnings could include outdoor lighting, sound system upgrades, and turf! Help us reach the next milestone as a Top 16 finalist by sharing on Instagram and using @TMobile #FN5GL #Sweepstakes @ohs308 @OHSathletics.

Thank you all for being part of this journey!

This month, nominations are open for Long Beach, Old Post, Boulder Hill, and Brokaw schools to recognize their amazing teachers and employees through the District's PRIDE program! The winning individuals will be recognized at the October 21 Board of Education Meeting.

Please visit the Board of Education page on the district’s website and nominate a teacher or staff member to be considered for this prestigious award. The Nomination period will close on Thursday, September 26th.

Ms. Wenmouth

We are excited to invite all families to attend the second session of SD 308 Parent University to learn, empower, advocate, and find community as parents in our district. Enjoy learning about topics parents choose and participate in and support your student's educational journey. Join us on Saturday, October 26th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Plank Junior High. Childcare will be provided.

Mr. Cirone

OHS junior Emily Chorvat is one of 38 poets honored at the 8th annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. Emily was named as an honorable mention in her grade group for her poem, "X". Over 988 entries were received; congratulations to Emily on this special recognition of your creativity and talent! Mrs. Johnson

Congratulations to Stephanie San Roman, OHS Band Director. She recently attended the awards ceremony in Nashville and received an award as a Music Teacher of Excellence presented by the CMA Foundation. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to students, Stephanie; this award is well deserved!

Mr. Ploger

The Oswego East High School Social Studies department is partnering with Disabled American Veterans: Field of Flags. From now until Oct. 25th, anyone in our community can donate, and for every $250 raised, the school will receive 24 flags to be placed along the school’s main entrance and Wolf's Crossing the week of Veteran’s Day. Visit the OEHS Facebook page for the link to read more and donate. President Simelton

The 11th Annual FOOD DRIVE begins on October 15th and will culminate at the Crosstown Game on Friday, October 25, at Oswego East High School. We look forward to this time of year as our district collaborates to work towards such an incredible cause. Our district continues to be the largest donation the Kendall County Community Food Pantry receives yearly. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

8.2 Board Member Comments

Ms. Wenmouth shared that most people ever visited the last food pantry. There seems to be more need and we are grateful we can provide for everyone that needs it.

Ms. Johnson read a prepared statement regarding the recent events, discussing the safety of students and staff.

Jared Ploger thanked the Village of Oswego for the constructive tone at the Village Board Meeting, where the growth and its effects on the school district was discussed.

Dr. Khelghati stated that Mr. Bell will share a presentation on safety and security at the next Board meeting on October 7.

9. Consent Agenda

9.1 Approval of Minutes from previous Meeting

9.2 Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information (FOIA) Requests

9.3 Approval of Field Trips – Overnight and / or More than 200 Miles

9.4 Acknowledgement of Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits Report FY24

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Eugene Gatewood, to approve all items under consent, including 9.1 Minutes from the Board of Education meeting on September 9, 2024; 9.2 to acknowledge the FOIA requests received by the District; 9.3 to approve the Field Trips for overnight and/or more than 200 miles and 9.4 to acknowledge the Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefit report for FY24

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

10. Action Items

10.1 Approval of District Administrator Contract

This item was approved after agenda item 6.1

10.2 Approval of Personnel Report

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to approve the Personnel report as discussed and presented

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

11. Information

11.1 Financial Statements and Investment Schedule

Mr. Obafemi shared an overview of the Financial statements and our Investment schedule.

11.2 Custodial Supplies RFP

Mr. Queen talked about going with different vendors for our custodial supplies in order to get the best deal for the various programs.

11.3 Strategic Roadmap Update

Dr. Kincaid provided an update on the work that the Team has been conducting regarding the Strategic Roadmap. We are both, monitoring implementation and feedback on our eight priorities. Our school improvement plans are underway at our buildings.

The intended completion date of the Strategic Plan to be presented to the Board is March 17, 2025.

12. Action Items

12.1 Approval of Updated E-Learning Plan

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to approve the Updated E-Learning Plan as presented

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

12.2 Approval of Four New Bus Leases

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to approve a three-year lease through Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc. with an annual payment of $89,032.00 for four buses

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

12.3 Policies for Second Read and Approval: Section 4: Operational Services (4:70, 4:80) Section 5: General Personnel (5:130, 5:200) Section 6: Instruction (6:140)

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to approve the following Board Policies: Section 4: Operational Services (4:70, 4:80) Section 5: General Personnel (5:130, 5:200) Section 6: Instruction (6:140)

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

13. Adjournment

13.1 Adjourn

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to adjourn. All were in favor unanimously to adjourn.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

Meeting Adjourned at 9:49 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/files/D9NJT24EA483/$file/09.23.24%20Draft%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf